The Necropsy Dictionary: First Edition

By D.E. Devor and E.M. Parsoneault

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A

abdomen; abdominal - cavity below the diaphragm containing abdominal tissues including the stomach, intestine, kidneys, spleen etc.

abscess - collection of dead inflammatory cells and live neutrophils, often with bacteria present

adhesion - sticking together of two or more tissues due to inflammation or trauma

anemia; anemic - animal appears pale; quality or quantity of blood is poor which occurs due to hemorrhage or to such conditions as large masses, leukemias, lymphomas, etc.

anopthalmia - no eyes or very small eyes that are difficult to see

anorexia; anorexic - lack of appetite or avoidance of food

anterior - refers to a structure being more in front than another structure in the body

ataxia; ataxic - miscellaneous incoordination

atelectic (in lungs) - airless condition such as a collapsed lung lobe, may also be noted as consolidation

atrophy; atrophic - marked decrease in size

autolysis; autolytic; autolyzed - rotting of cells after death of the animal

azygous - unpaired

B

biliary - pertaining to bile

bulbous - having a bulb shape

C

cachexia - malnutrition associated with carcinoma or other chronic condition

cachectic - the lack of appetite seen in cancer

calcareous, calciferous, calcification - all terms imply the appearance of calcium deposition (i.e. chalky, white, hard, and brittle)

calcinosis - condition of forming calcium deposit

calculus; calculi - stone in the kidney pelvis, gall bladder, urethra, bladder

caseous - purulent material in a more solid form

caudal (inferior) -refers to a structure being closer to the feet or the tail end of the body than another relative structure in the body

cirrhosis; cirrhotic - used to describe a fibrous condition of the liver

coagulation; coagulative - clotting

contralateral - refers to a structure on the opposite side of the body as the reference point

coronal (frontal) - longitudinal plane dividing the body into equal or unequal front and back parts

cortex; cortical - the outer layer of an organ

cranial (superior, rostral, head end) - refers to a structure being closer to the head or higher than another structure of the body

cross (transverse) - plane perpendicular to the longitudinal plane dividing the body parts into upper and lower segments

cyanotic; cyanosis - animal or tissue appears blue or gray due to lack of blood oxygenation

D

deep - refers to internal structures or structures further away from a body wall than another

degeneration; degenerative - similar to depletion but implies a decrease in function and form

dehydration - lack of fluid in cellular and interstitial spaces

depleted; depletion - used up, exhausted-looking: a qualitative/descriptive term rather than a diagnostic one

diaphragm; diaphragmatic - the muscle separating thoracic and abdominal cavities

distal - refers to a structure being further away from the median plane or the root of a limb than another structure in the limb

dorsal - refers to the top side

E

edema; edematous - fluid accumulation within tissues, esp. connective tissues

emaciation - no body fat

endometrium; endometrial - inner layer of the uterus, mucosa

enteric - pertaining to the intestines

enteritis - inflammation of the intestines

epiglottis; epiglottal - the flap of tissue which closes off the trachea when swallowing

epithelium; epithelial - pure cellular (nonvascular) layer covering any free surface (skin or tubular structures such as intestines, esophagus, uterus)

exudate - fluid which has seeped out of tissues or vessels due to injury, increased permeability of cells, or inflammation

F

fibrosis; fibrotic - when connective tissue becomes rigid and firm; nonelastic

follicle; follicular - sac, pouch; also a columnar depression or cavity

friable - brittle

fundus; fundic - the bottom or lowest part of a sac or hollow organ; term used most frequently referring to the stomach

fungating - literally, growing as a fungus would; also having a spongy texture

H

hemangioma; hemangiomatous - a lesion of the blood vessels

hemorrhage; hemorrhagic - uncontrolled or copious bleeding

hepatic - pertaining to the liver

hepatitis - inflammation of the liver

hepatomegaly - swelling or enlargement of the liver

hilis; pl. hili - the medial indentation in an organ (notably lymph nodes and kidney) where the efferent and afferent vessels enter and exit

hydrocephalic; hydrocephalus - swelling of the cranium either due to fluid build up within or around the brain

hyperemia (congestion) - congestion; pooling of blood

hyperplasia; hyperplastic - increase in cell number within an organ or tissue

hypertrophy - enlargement of an organ or cell; swelling due to increase in cell or organ size

hypotaxia; hypotaxic - poor or weak movements; disorientation

I

icteric; icterus - yellowed, may be due to bile or bilirubin accumulation

in situ - in place

in vitro - in tissue culture

in vivo - in the living animal

incisor - teeth used to cut or incise, as opposed to guarding

inflamed; inflammation - changes in tissues caused by injury or abnormal stimulation, chronic irritation (redness, heat, swelling, pain and sometimes loss of function)

interstitium; interstitial - the microscopic spaces within tissues

intussusception - the telescoping of intestine over a lesion

ipsilateral - refers to a structure on the same side of the body as the reference point

K

keratinization - thickening of the epidermis by overproduction of keratin, forming calluses

kyphosis; kyphotic - the hunched posture shown by animals in distress or pain

L

larynx, laryngeal - voice box

lateral - refers to a structure that is further away from the median plane than another structure

lethargic; lethargy - reluctance or inability to move or respond to stimuli

lordosis; lordotic - the typical posture shown by many animals in heat with the rump and tail elevated

M

medial - refers to a structure that is closer to the median plane than another structure in the body

median - the midline, longitudinal plane dividing the body into right/left halves

medulla; medullary - hindbrain, mostly concerned with motor and basic life support functions; also the inner or middle portions of an organ

meninges; meningial - lining of the brain and spinal cord

mesometrium; mesometrial - the membrane holding the uterine horns to the body wall

metastasis; metastases; metastatic - spreading of a cancer to a distant site usually through blood or lymph vessels

micropthalmia - small eyes

morbid - sick

moribund - near death

N

necrosis; necrotic; necrotizing - cell death

neoplasia; neoplastic - new growth or abnormal tissue growth

nephritis; nephritic - kidney inflammation

O

ocular - pertaining to the eyeball or eye socket

P

papilloma; papillomatous; papillary; papilla; papillae - wart-like growth with or without a stalk

pedunculated; peduncle - having a stalk

perforate - having holes

perineum; perineal - the area of the vulva/scrotum and the anal opening

periosteum; periosteal - the membrane surrounding bones

peritoneum; peritoneal - lining of the abdominal cavity

pharynx; pharyngeal - throat area containing openings to both the trachea and the esophagus

piloerection - hair appears ruffled or erect, doesn't lie down smoothly, often found in dehydrated, typical of malnourished and very sick animals who don't or can't groom.

pleura; pleural - membranes lining the chest cavity and lungs

polydipsia (dypsia) - excessive drinking

polyp; polypoid - usually a smooth rounded growth with some length of stalk, similar to a papilloma but generally arising from an internal tissue

polyuria - excessive urination

posterior - refers to structure being more in back than another structure in the body

prepuce; preputial - sheath that protects the penis

prolapse - protrusion or slippage of an organ or tissue from its normal location

proximal - refers to a structure being closer to the median plane or the root of a limb than another structure in the limb

pulmonary - pertaining to the lungs

purulent - descriptive term for what is found in most abscesses or pus-like discharges

pylorus; pyloric - terminal segment of the stomach ending at the duodenal junction

S

sagittal - the longitudinal plane dividing structures into left and right halves

scirrhous - hard, firm

sebaceous - usually refers to an oily or fatty secretion

septicemia; septicemic - systemic infection caused by microorganisms circulating in the blood; whole body infection

serum; serous - the clear tannish fluid that separates from whole blood

sessile - lesion/mass without a stalk connected to main tissue by a broad base

splenic - pertaining to the spleen

splenomegaly - marked enlargement of the spleen

stroma - connective tissue network of tumor or tissue

subcutaneous - beneath the skin

superficial - refers to structures on the external surface of the body or a structure closer to the external surface of the body than another

T

thrombus - fibrinous mass atached to endothelial tissue or blood vessel

V

ventral - refers to belly side of the body

vertebra; pl.vertebrae; vertebral - bones along the spinal cord

vesicle; vesicular - small liquid or gas filled sac

visceral - abdominal structure and organs

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